Admiral Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL

Admiral the Hon. Sir Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, KCB, DSO, JP, DL (28 August 1880 – 16 October 1967) was a British admiral. He is often referred to as Reginald Plunkett or Reginald Drax.

He was the younger son of the 17th Baron of Dunsany (1853–1899) and his wife, the former Ernle Elizabeth Louisa Maria Grosvenor Ernle-Erle-Drax (1855–1916), née Burton. His elder brother was Lord Dunsany, a prolific writer and author of over 60 books.

Sir Reginald, born a Plunkett, was christened Reginald Aylmer Ranfurly (Plunkett) on 9 September 1880 at Holy Trinity Church, Marylebone, Westminster, and assumed the Ernle-Erle-Drax on 4 October 1916. His long series of titles, Christian names, surnames and postnominals has made him famous beyond his career as an Admiral in the Royal Navy.

Plunkett was educated at Cheam School. He joined the navy at the age of 14, training aboard the stationary school ship, HMS Britannia. He was promoted Lieutenant 15 January 1901.

He served during the First World War aboard the battlecruiser HMS Lion and was present at the naval battles of Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank and Jutland. He was promoted captain on 30 June 1916.

He was awarded the DSO in 1918 whilst commanding HMS Blanche.

Plunkett held a series of senior naval appointments between the wars. From 1919 to 1922, he was Director of the Naval Staff College, Greenwich. He then served as President of the Naval Allied Control Commission in Germany from 1923 to 1924.

As a Rear Admiral, he commanded the 2nd Battle Squadron of the Home Fleet from 1929 to 1930. From 1930 to 1932 he was ashore in the Admiralty as Director of Manning.

Promoted to Vice Admiral on 24 September 1932, he held from 1932 to 1934 the post of Commander of the America and West Indies Squadron.

From 1935 to 1938, he was Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth.

In December 1939, Plunkett was appointed Commander-in-Chief, The Nore serving until 1941 - responsible for the protection of the east coast convoys from Scotland to London. These faced the multiple threats of acoustic mines and magnetic mines as well as attacks from the air and by surface vessels, especially after the fall of the Netherlands and Belgium.

As the war continued, advancing years caused him to retire from the active navy list and to join the Home Guard. He went to sea from 1943 to 1945 as a convoy commodore, during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Alongside Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond and Vice-Admiral Kenneth Dewar, Plunkett was considered to be an intellectual who held controversial views, including the need for naval reform.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Drax

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